Eddie DeBartolo Talks Levi's® Stadium, Candlestick

The former 49ers owner also said he believed San Francisco is more than equipped to return to the Super Bowl this season.

Former 49ers owner Eddie DeBartolo Jr. has not seen Levi's® Stadium in person. But from what his newphew, team CEO Jed York, has told him, DeBartolo expects San Francisco's Santa Clara-based ballpark to best a certain sparkling stadium in Dallas.

"It's going to make Jerry's stadium look obsolete," DeBartolo said Sunday in Tampa Bay, referencing Jones' home for his Cowboys, which he has toured.

"It's the beginning of the beginning," DeBartolo added. "It's an end of an era and the beginning of a new one."

The start of that comes on "Monday Night Football," when San Francisco hosts the Atlanta Falcons in the final regular season game at Candlestick Park, the team's home since 1971.

"In a different way, I left a lot of my heart, my blood, sweat and tears on that field, too," DeBartolo told reporters. "I think it's fitting that we're all there. We had a lot of good times, a lot. We had some bad times. That's sports. That's life. But it'll be an honor to be there.

"It's going to be totally emotional."

DeBartolo, seemingly always willing to speak his mind, also commented on the current state of the 49ers.

In response to reporters' questions, he said he believed that it was "important" that York and Co. lock up Jim Harbaugh with an extended contract and that Harbaugh's 2013 squad was more than equipped to return to the Super Bowl.

"They are by far the best team in football," he said. "I don't want to make any predictions. Seattle is great, and they have had trouble in Seattle. Reminds me of our teams, it reminds me of '88, '89. I don't see any reason why they can't win the Super Bowl this year."

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